CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42 TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE AND DARK GRAVEYARD

On the modification of the armor.

Chen Ming plans to apply the [Multi-layered Buffer Armor] that he saw during the previous ship armor transformation.

As for the other three, [Explosive Reactive Armor], [Armor Material Replacement], and [Heavy Armor], they are out of the question.

Currently, Chen Ming lacks the materials for Explosive Reactive Armor.

If he were to proceed with Armor Material Replacement, he could only use White Cloud Steel, but Chen Ming has other plans for it later, so it presents the same issue as with the explosive resistance.

And Heavy Armor significantly affects the ship’s maneuverability.

Even if there were no material shortages, hypothetically modifying all three types of armor, how thick would the ship’s armor be? How could this lost maneuverability be compensated?

Thus, the modification of the armor has to be selective.

As a result, Chen Ming now even needs to find a way to resolve the issue of the bottom armor that has undergone Heavy Armor transformation.

Fortunately, the solution quickly presented itself to Chen Ming.

Because when Chen Ming opened the transformation panel of the ship’s bottom armor, the spot originally for [Heavy Armor] had already been replaced by [Standard Armor].

Chen Ming directly chose to transform the [Standard Armor].

Then, all the materials previously used for the Heavy Armor transformation were returned to the storage compartment.

Without Chen Ming having to laboriously remove the armor, the remaining tasks were much simpler.

All he needed was to methodically modify the ship’s armor using the techniques he had learned.

Aside from the armor, Chen Ming also plans to modify the ship’s hatch.

After all, increasing the armor strength while leaving the door vulnerable is simply a joke.

The options for hatches are limited, and Chen Ming ultimately decided on the transformation of an [Explosion-Proof Airtight Door].

Transforming it into a double-layered protective door would greatly enhance the door’s defensive capability.

Having modified the door, Chen Ming naturally wouldn’t overlook the carrying points on both port and starboard of the ship.

[Cannon Tower Armor] was eventually chosen by Chen Ming.

It could modify the carrying points, protecting the carrying points and the weapons installed on them with armor.

A slight sacrifice in the speed of weapon rotation for more secure protective measures.

In fact, Chen Ming had already had a similar idea when the Bubble Insect counterattacked with acid earlier.

Although the bug did not damage the ship, future enemies with long-range attack capabilities might not be as feeble as the bug.

If, carelessly, Chen Ming’s weapon was damaged, he would be a sitting duck during the weapon repair period.

And if a carrying point were damaged, Chen Ming seriously doubted whether the "repair" function could bring back the lost weapon.

So, when modifying the cannon tower armor, Chen Ming chose to use White Cloud Steel as the material.

The materials required for the cannon tower armor transformation were within Chen Ming’s budget.

Compared to the previous modifications, the armor transformation was more challenging, as Chen Ming had to climb outside the ship himself.

Although the ship was in a stable flying phase, and the high-precision sensors ensured the ship wouldn’t scrape against anything,

Regardless, working outside the ship was much more difficult than inside.

If Chen Ming had completed the armor modifications before departure, it might not have been so laborious now, but it would mean delaying the departure by a few months, unless he directly relied on the panel for modifications.

But doing so would mean no progress in his technical skills, and he would essentially have nothing to do for six months, wasting a lot of free time.

Therefore, Chen Ming preferred to undertake modifications after the ship’s departure, making full use of his time.

The armor modification lasted until the beginning of the fifth month after departure.

The Iron Ore No. had undergone very noticeable changes in appearance.

Initially, the Iron Ore No. was a ship with a purely metallic sheen externally.

But now, the overall color of the Iron Ore No. had turned white.

This was because Chen Ming realized something midway through the armor transformation.

The [Armor Material Replacement] option allows for the free adjustment of proportions of different materials in the ship’s armor.

Then Chen Ming discovered that ordinary steel could see a significant strength increase by mixing in a bit of White Cloud Steel.

At least, it was far stronger than the current aluminum-steel composite material of the ship.

Therefore, after discovering this, Chen Ming directly attempted to apply [Armor Material Replacement] to the front armor, which had completed the [Multi-layered Buffer Armor] transformation.

The material choice was to mix 1% White Cloud Steel into the aluminum-steel composite material.

Then, including the Multi-layered Buffer Armor that Chen Ming personally modified, all the front armor of the ship was replaced with aluminum-steel and White Cloud Steel composite material, boasting very high strength.

The armor’s strength saw a qualitative improvement, and its color changed to white.

Though not as pristine as pure White Cloud Steel, modifying the ship in this manner was far more cost-effective than using White Cloud Steel directly.

Exchanging some surplus White Cloud Steel reserves for armor with at least threefold strength was truly valuable for Chen Ming.

After the ship’s armor was completely transformed,

Chen Ming finally found time during this period to meticulously study all the professional books in the terminal,

As most of the books had been learned by Chen Ming in memory, his efficiency in learning and mastering was exceptionally high.

Combined with the near-daily practical exercises, up to now, Chen Ming had thoroughly mastered the skills a Maintenance Master should possess.

He might still lag slightly behind the Maintenance Master in his memory, but that’s a matter of years of experience.

As long as Chen Ming remains alive, he will inevitably surpass his past self.

With the completion of the armor modifications, the fifth month arrived.

The remaining journey for the ship was roughly down to a third, with just over two months left to reach the destination.

However, speaking of which, Chen Ming chose to start decelerating the ship now.

Because Chen Ming learned from the star system map that there was an area ahead of the ship at a certain distance.

An asteroid belt or zone referred to as the "Dark Graveyard."

This was a record Chen Ming found in the terminal about the star system where Rimu Star is located and several other nearby star systems.

It’s said that this asteroid zone was discovered before the Human Empire expanded here.

As there are no stars here, all asteroids are shrouded in darkness.

Back then, this asteroid belt contained a very special mineral that emitted a specific electromagnetic frequency, interfering with detection equipment.

This caused many explorers and pioneers to not detect the asteroids in this cosmic dark space, resulting in accidents and shipwrecks.

Where someone fell earlier, there was always someone later who enjoyed picking up the relics of others.

Then they too met the same fate as those before them, perishing here.

Thus, the rumor spread, and more and more people came here, dying among the asteroids in the darkness.

That’s how it came to be nicknamed the Dark Graveyard.

But now things are different.

With the expansion of the Human Empire’s territory, the Dark Graveyard has long been fully developed, and the special minerals have long been extracted clean.

Chen Ming can enter with confidence.

He might even find some old shipwrecks from past eras left undiscovered.

Even if not, Chen Ming could still search for asteroids containing minerals to collect, replenishing some of the metal material consumed on the journey.

Though this asteroid zone hardly has any mining guilds operating, mining efficiency and rewards are certainly low,

but since it’s on the way, Chen Ming doesn’t mind taking a little look.

Relieving himself from the monotony of only seeing those starlit skies like streaks of light for the past five months, apart from work.